Force DirectX 9

We do not have a date for this yet, but it will likely be early 2018. This will affect users with older hardware who are unable to run DirectX 11, but the good news is that you will likely be able to use OpenGL instead. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact us.

Right-click on the game title in your Steam Library

Select ‘Properties’

Select the ‘General’ tab

Click the ‘Set launch options…’ button

Enter -force-d3d9 into the launch options (note the dash at the beginning)

Click ‘OK’

Close the Properties window

Launch Universe Sandbox ²

Show Screen Selector (Fix Resolution Errors)

This launch option is intended for users who have received screen resolution error messages and are no longer able to start Universe Sandbox ² (caused by Unity registry errors).

Right-click on the game title in your Steam Library

Select ‘Properties’

Select the ‘General’ tab

Click the ‘Set launch options…’ button

Enter -show-screen-selector into the launch options (note the dash at the beginning)

Click ‘OK’

Close the Properties window

Launch Universe Sandbox ²

Verify Integrity of Game Cache

Right click on the game title in your Steam Library

Select ‘Properties’

Select the ‘Local Files’ tab

Click ‘Verify Integrity of Game Cache.’ This verifies and re-downloads any files that are incorrect.

Once complete, launch Universe Sandbox ²

Reinstall Universe Sandbox ²

Right click on the game title in your Steam Library

Select ‘Uninstall…’

Select ‘Delete’

This will remove the installation of the game, but will not remove user files like screenshots, objects, and simulations

Once the process is complete, right-click on Universe Sandbox ² in your Steam Library

Select ‘Install Game…’

Once Steam has finished reinstallation, launch Universe Sandbox ²

Disable Steam Overlay

Right-click on the game title in your Steam Library

Select ‘Properties’

Uncheck ‘Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game’

Close the Properties window

Launch Universe Sandbox ²

Change Version

Right-click on the game title in your Steam Library

Click on ‘Properties’

Select the ‘Betas’ tab

Set the dropdown menu to the version you want to change to.

Close the Properties window

Steam will now update Universe Sandbox ² to the selected version

Once updated, launch Universe Sandbox ²

Opt Out of Betas

Right-click on the game title in your Steam Library

Click on ‘Properties’

Select the ‘Betas’ tab

Set the dropdown menu to ‘NONE – Opt out of all beta programs.’

Close the Properties window

If you had opted into a beta, Steam will now update Universe Sandbox ² to the latest version

Once updated, launch Universe Sandbox ²

Opt Into Experimental Version

We occasionally offer experimental versions of upcoming releases. These experimental versions are works-in-progress which are made available so the community can help us with feedback and testing. There may be incomplete features and bugs. Please see our forum for announcements about experimental versions.

Right-click on the game title in your Steam Library

Click on ‘Properties’

Select the ‘Betas’ tab

Set the dropdown menu to ‘experimental’

Close the Properties window

Steam will now update Universe Sandbox ² to the experimental

Once updated, launch Universe Sandbox ²

Update to Latest Version of Universe Sandbox ²

Steam should automatically download the latest version of Universe Sandbox ² once it is available.

Change GPU Scaling

If you see a black screen when you start Universe Sandbox ² but can still hear the game’s music, we recommend trying this solution. If you still see the black screen, try Change System Time Zone below.

If you have an Nvidia graphics card:

Right-click on your desktop

Click “Nvidia Control Panel”

Click “Display” then “Adjust Desktop Size and Position”

Set scaling mode to “No scaling”

Apply settings

Launch Universe Sandbox ²

If you have an AMD card:

Right-click on your desktop

Click “AMD Radeon Settings” (or Catalyst)

Click “Display”

Set scaling mode to “Full Panel”

Apply settings

Launch Universe Sandbox ²

If you have Intel graphics (or the above options did not work):

Right-click on your desktop

Click “Intel Graphics Settings”

Click “Display”

Set scaling to “Maintain Aspect Ratio”

If you do not see “Maintain Aspect Ratio” as an option, try adjusting the resolution

Change Nvidia Antialiasing Transparency

If you see “blocky” lines on planets in Universe Sandbox ² (see image below) and you are using an Nvidia graphics card, then please try disabling Antialiasing Transparency in the Nvidia Control Panel.

Right-click on your desktop

Click “Nvidia Control Panel”

Under “3D Settings” in the left sidebar, select “Manage 3D Settings”

Set “Antialiasing – Transparency” to Off

Apply settings

Launch Universe Sandbox ²

Email Us Your Log File

Make sure Universe Sandbox ² is closed. If reporting a specific issue or crash, please send us your log after the issue occurs and before running Universe Sandbox ² again; running it overwrites the log

If you are still seeing this warning after updating your drivers, then it’s likely your hardware does not support these features. In order to run Universe Sandbox ², please try using another computer or upgrading your hardware.

Shader Model 3.0 Not Supported Warning

Shader Model 3.0 is a hardware specification for video cards.

If your card does not support this feature, then you must try using another computer, or upgrade your hardware, in order to run Universe Sandbox ².

Not Running Latest Version Notification

If you’re not using Steam…

If you’re running an old version of Universe Sandbox ² and not using Steam, please buy Universe Sandbox ² to run the latest and best version.

Not Running Latest Version Notification (Standalone)

If you’re using a standalone copy owned by a school or other institution…

Please contact the appropriate technical/administrative staff and let them know the copy is out of date.

As described below, please note that sometimes there is a delay between when we release updates on Steam and when they are available on the TeacherGaming Store. The delay should be no longer than a few business days.

If you own/administrate a TeacherGaming copy…

Once the update is available on the TeacherGaming Store, you should receive an email from TeacherGaming notifying you of the update and you may follow the directions below to download it.

If you have not received an email from TeacherGaming but you see a notification that your copy is out-of-date, then it is likely not yet available. There is sometimes a small delay between when we release an update on Steam and when it reaches the TeacherGaming Store.

If your version is older AND step 4 didn’t work, then follow these instructions to uninstall Steam then reinstall it: Windows | Mac (make sure you read all of the steps and move your game folder first!)

Hello i bought this game but it seems to i cant change background its full dark i watched few videos and their backgrounds are different (like milky way) am i doing it wrong or there is a problem with my pc ?

Alright, so, I recently bought this game and I love playing it. Only problem is the backgrounds don’t seem to work. At all. I’ve tried using View->Background->Selecting a preset, but that doesn’t work. It just stays black. It doesn’t effect the way the game runs, but it would be nice to have something else to look at besides nothingness.

I bought the game but it won’t allow me to add anything to the simulations or in the blank files. All I can do is see the planets and watch them go round. I can’t even focus on them. I am playing the most up to date version. Help?

Hi.
I have just bought Universal Sandbox 2 and after 2 hours am very disappointed.
MAC OS 10.7.5 on a older iMAC (the last one made with a DVD drive.) 16 Gigs RAM 1 Gig Video ram
All seems fine except that any chosen animation FREEZES after a seemingly random amount of time (usually within 2 mins after reload.
I have tried the “force-opengl” in the launch options – no joy.
I have tried with “Enable access for assistive devices” checked and unchecked. Checked it wont even run at all.
My son has been saving up for this program for about three months and is devastated that, now it’s finally here – it won’t work.
Any advise would be most welcome
Alan Day
Somerset
UK

Recently i am having trouble with US2, i searched for a solve but found nothing, what happens is when i load up one of my own sims, all of the planets tempature lower to -273, no matter the distance to the star, even cranking up the luminosity, and relaoding another sim after doing that still brings all tempatures of the planets to -273, how can this be solved? its very annoying since it also killed alien civilized planets.

Hello! For some reason, when I try opening up my simulations, they aren’t there at all. However, when I opened up the open simulation folder (in game) they are there. But I don’t know how to open the simulation in game or not. Please help.

Universe Sandbox ² does not support anaglyph 3D. This was supported in the original Universe Sandbox Legacy. Universe Sandbox ² does have a VR mode, though, which currently supports HTC Vive and Oculus Rift+Touch headsets on Windows PCs.

Sorry for the issue. Is this consistent? Or do you only see it when running intense simulations? It is possible to see slow-down on even the best hardware, as we don’t put a limit on what you can attempt to simulate. 🙂 What is your performance test result?

I cannot even run the sim. Despite reinstalling the thing, numerous reboots of both my system (a Lenovo Legion Y520) and Steam, and attempting everything on the list, it absolutely will not run. I just get a clear screen and have to Win+Tab to another virtual desktop to open the Task Manager to shut the thing down. Please either fix or give me my sodding money back. As for log files or crash dumps, I’m going to straight up deal with this preemptively. I CAN NOT send you what I DO NOT HAVE. If the program will not run, it is not capable of generating any crash dumps nor log files. I’ve checked, and, sure enough, there aren’t any.

Sorry for the issue, and thanks for checking if there were log files. You’re correct that if it isn’t starting at all, then a file might not be generated. This is an unusual case, as the program will typically be able to at least initialize. If you could, please send us full system information, which can be found in Steam > Help > System Information. Please email this information to support@universesandbox.com. Thanks!

When I start Universe Sandbox it opens up and play a short tune. Then a popup show it appear it is initializing program.
It closes and poof Windows popup tells me Windows encountered a problem and will close program.

Sorry again, It seemed my comment came off the site, I tried looking for your email so I could send my log file but It wouldn’t let me on the site to get your email, any other way I can get your email? From Jake.